gchaddy Loc: Bolton

Hi im after as much help ad advice as possible please
tonight i am due to go to a 21st birthday party and i have been asked to take some pictures.

im not sure of the best way to attack them.

i have a sony a55 with a choice of a 18-55mm sony kit lens two minolta prime lenses a 50mm F1.7 and a 28mm F2.8 and a minolta beer can 70-210mm

i also have a sony external flash.

i will be taking all the shots hand held due to space i struggle when using my flash as they always turn out harsh
even when i try to bounce the flash off a celing.

when i set my camera to aperture mode the external flash always seams to set the flash power to auto and i cannot over ride the power settings as i can see on the camera there does not appear to be a flash compensation mode.
so one of my questions is if the camera is set on manual mode this then gives me full control of the settings on the flash . when in manual mode how do i use the built in light meter in relation to the flash i have the camera also in TTL mode. and help or tips this subject for shooting at the party would be great
thanks in advance Gary

FilmFanatic Loc: Waikato, New Zealand

The light meter in the camera has nothing to do with the flash, it can't know what the flash is going to do after all. You control the ambient light in manual mode with shutter speed, and in theory control flash with aperture, but the TTL on flashes I have used seems to compensate for that, if you really want to adjust the flash power you can do so with the flash exposure compensation function. Page 104 in your users guide, it reads:

Fn button -> (Flash Compensation) -> Select the desired
setting
Toward +: Makes the flash level higher. Toward –: Makes the flash level lower.

Remember that the exposure meter will only help you set ambient exposure, not flash exposure.

gchaddy Loc: Bolton

Ah thanks for that it makes more sence now god knows why i dont think of looking in the manual ( sorry i should have done that ) yep i found the flash compensation now :)

FOTOSTAN Loc: Ca..NYC..Fla.

Here we go again.... another non-photographer taking pix at a party/wedding, and asking advise.. WHEN, will the public know there is a time and place to ask a beginner, to take photos at once in a life time event??

Sweet Willie Loc: Texas

At a function people will leave you alone if you have a small camera. My little
Canon G-12 and 270 EX can do well but does not look very professional. If the
family knows you have a long lens "bazooka" and a massive flash they want
perfect shots for nothing. Better yet if the affair is something you don't want to
remember don't take your camera.
Sweet Willie

GeneS Loc: Glendale,AZ

Gee I had to learn once myself,only way to learn is make your mistakes.

gchaddy Loc: Bolton

Bit of a harsh responce i think everyone starts at the bottom at some stage . But just for interest i was asked if i would like to take photos as a learning project for my self and the fact that a good 60 % of the people at the party had a camera ment that the once in the life time event will be recorded one way or the other.
Gary

gchaddy Loc: Bolton

i Agree Thanks for your understanding

Gary

FOTOSTAN Loc: Ca..NYC..Fla.

"Harsh responce".... I don't think so. LEAVE the photo shoot to those who know what they are doing. IF, you owned a set of knives, would you call yourself a medical doctor... ??, therfore leave this time honored vocation, up to those who learned the hard way..

gchaddy Loc: Bolton

Lol sad. Congrats on your people skills

country Loc: back woods

what an ass....